Work Function Based Voltage Reference

ABSTRACT

A voltage reference is created from an operational amplifier circuit having two substantially identical P-channel metal oxide semiconductor (P-MOS) transistors with each one having a different gate dopant. The different gate dopants result in different threshold voltages for each of the two otherwise substantially identical P-MOS transistors. The difference between these two threshold voltages is then used to create the voltage reference equal to the difference. The two P-MOS transistors are configured as a differential pair in the operational amplifier circuit and the output of the operational amplifier is used as the voltage reference.

RELATED PATENT APPLICATION

This patent application is related to commonly owned U.S. patentapplication Ser. No. ______/[MTI-2549], filed ______, entitled “ATemperature Compensated Work Function Based Voltage Reference” byGregory Dix, and is hereby incorporated by reference herein for allpurposes.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present disclosure relates generally to voltage references, and moreparticularly, to a voltage reference based upon the work functiondifference between two differently doped gates of P-channel devices usedas a differential pair of an operational amplifier.

BACKGROUND

Voltage references, such as bandgap voltage references, are widely usedin various analog and digital integrated circuit functions, e.g.,analog-to-digital and digital-to-analog conversion. The operation of abandgap voltage reference relies upon the voltage difference between twodiodes, often operated at the same current and having different junctionareas, that is used to generate a proportional to absolute temperature(PTAT) current in a first resistor. This current is used to generate avoltage in a second resistor. This voltage in turn is added to thevoltage of one of the diodes (or a third one, in some implementations).If the ratio between the first and second resistors is chosen properly,the first order effects of the temperature dependency of the diodes andthe PTAT current will cancel out. The resulting voltage is about 1.2-1.3volts, depending on the particular technology used, and is close to thetheoretical bandgap of silicon at 0 K.

However, the diodes used in the bandgap voltage reference generate noisethat is introduced into circuits coupled to the bandgap reference(voltage+noise). The diodes and support circuits used in the bandgapvoltage reference require a lot of integrated circuit die real estateand consume a fair amount of power during operation thereof. Initialoutput voltage distribution from the bandgap voltage reference duringstartup is not stable until a certain time passes. The voltage from thebandgap reference also varies with temperature.

SUMMARY

What is needed is a better way to generate a low noise, low-temperaturedrift, stable upon startup voltage reference that uses less integratedcircuit die real estate and consumes less power during operationthereof.

According to the teachings of this disclosure, a voltage reference iscreated from an operational amplifier circuit comprises twosubstantially identical P-channel metal oxide semiconductor (P-MOS)transistors with each one having a different gate dopant. The differentgate dopants result in different threshold voltages for each of the twootherwise substantially identical P-MOS transistors. The differencebetween these two threshold voltages is then used to create a voltagereference equal to the difference.

The two P-MOS transistors are configured as a differential pair in anoperational amplifier circuit. The two P-MOS transistors, each having adifferent gate dopant, are substantially identical otherwise so thattemperature dependence of the threshold voltage is minimal and may becompensated for by changing the gain(s) of the associated P-MOStransistor(s). By implementing the two P-MOS transistors having thedifferent gate dopants into an operational amplifier type of circuit,the total variation of the output reference voltage is minimized. SinceP-MOS transistors are less susceptible to substrate noise than arediodes, noise generation/immunity is much better when using the P-MOStransistors then with a standard diode based voltage reference, e.g.,bandgap voltage reference. Positive feedback in the operationalamplifier circuit allows for quick startup and good stability. Thesimplicity of the operational amplifier circuit requires only a smallarea for fabrication on the integrated circuit die.

According to a specific example embodiment of this disclosure, a voltagereference fabricated on an integrated circuit die comprises: a firstP-channel metal oxide semiconductor (P-MOS) transistor having an N-typepolysilicon gate, wherein the N-type polysilicon gate causes the firstP-MOS transistor to have a first threshold voltage; a second P-MOStransistor having a P-type polysilicon gate, wherein the P-typepolysilicon gate causes the second P-MOS transistor to have a secondthreshold voltage; the first and second P-MOS transistors are configuredas a differential pair of an operational amplifier; and the operationalamplifier has an output voltage substantially equal to a differencebetween the first and the second threshold voltages.

According to another specific example embodiment of this disclosure, amethod of fabricating a voltage reference on an integrated circuit diecomprises the steps of: providing an N-type well/region in a siliconsemiconductor integrated circuit die; covering at least a portion of theN-type well/region with an oxide layer in an area used to form gates ofP-channel metal oxide semiconductor (P-MOS) transistors for anoperational amplifier; covering the oxide layer with a polysiliconlayer; implanting a P⁻ dopant into the polysilicon layer; covering aportion of the P⁻ doped polysilicon layer with a first resist mask;implanting an N⁺ dopant into the P⁻ doped polysilicon layer wherever thefirst resist mask does not cover the P⁻ doped polysilicon layer;removing the first resist mask; covering a portion of the N⁺ dopedpolysilicon layer and a portion of the P⁻ doped polysilicon layer with asecond resist mask; and removing the N⁺doped polysilicon layer to forman N-type polysilicon gate where not covered by the second resist mask,the P⁻ doped polysilicon layer to form a P-type polysilicon gate wherenot covered by the second resist mask, and the oxide layer where notcovered by the second resist mask.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

A more complete understanding of the present disclosure thereof may beacquired by referring to the following description taken in conjunctionwith the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a schematic circuit diagram of an operational amplifierutilizing two substantially identical P-channel metal oxidesemiconductor (P-MOS) transistors arranged in a differential pair witheach one having a different gate dopant, according to specific exampleembodiments of this disclosure;

FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of a cross sectional elevation of a pairof P-MOS transistors as shown in FIG. 1 and having a common source well,according a specific example embodiment of this disclosure;

FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram of a cross sectional elevation of a pairof P-MOS transistors as shown in FIG. 1 and having individual sourcewells, according another specific example embodiment of this disclosure;and

FIGS. 4( a)-(d) are schematic process diagrams of process steps used infabricating N-type and P-type polysilicon gates for the pair of P-MOStransistors shown in FIGS. 1, 2 and 3, according to the specific exampleembodiments of this disclosure.

While the present disclosure is susceptible to various modifications andalternative forms, specific example embodiments thereof have been shownin the drawings and are herein described in detail. It should beunderstood, however, that the description herein of specific exampleembodiments is not intended to limit the disclosure to the particularforms disclosed herein, but on the contrary, this disclosure is to coverall modifications and equivalents as defined by the appended claims.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Referring now to the drawings, the details of example embodiments areschematically illustrated. Like elements in the drawings will berepresented by like numbers, and similar elements will be represented bylike numbers with a different lower case letter suffix.

Referring to FIG. 1, depicted is a schematic circuit diagram of anoperational amplifier utilizing two substantially identical P-channelmetal oxide semiconductor (P-MOS) transistors arranged in a differentialpair with each one having a different gate dopant, according to specificexample embodiments of this disclosure. An operational amplifiercircuit, generally represented by the numeral 100, comprises P-MOStransistors 102 and 104 configured as a differential pair, N-MOStransistors 106 and 108, constant current sources 112 and 114, and anoutput transistor 110. The N-MOS transistors 108 and 106 are used asloads for the P-MOS transistors 102 and 104, respectively. Since theN-MOS transistors 106 and 108 are configured as a current mirrorcircuit, each of the P-MOS transistors 102 and 104 operate atsubstantially the same current.

The P-MOS transistors 102 and 104 each have a different gate dopant soas to produce a different threshold voltage, Vt, for each of therespective P-MOS transistors 102 and 104. For the P-MOS transistor 102the threshold voltage is about −1.4 volts and for the P-MOS transistor104 the threshold voltage is about −0.3 volts. Otherwise, the P-MOStransistors 102 and 104 are substantially identical so that temperaturedependence of the threshold voltage is minimal and may be compensatedfor by changing the gain(s) of the associated P-MOS transistor(s) 102and/or 104. By implementing the P-MOS transistors 102 and 104 with thedifferent threshold voltages into an operational amplifier type ofcircuit 100, the voltage at the output of the operational amplifiercircuit 100 is the difference of the aforementioned threshold voltages,i.e., Vout=1.1 volt. The variation of the output reference voltage isminimized since the structures of the P-MOS transistors 102 and 104 aresubstantially identical otherwise. Since the P-MOS transistors 102 and104 are less susceptible to substrate noise than are diodes, noisegeneration/immunity is much better when using the P-MOS transistors 102and 104 then with a standard diode based voltage reference, e.g., abandgap voltage reference. Therefore the output, Vout=1.1 volt, of theoperational amplifier circuit 100 may be used as a very stable and lownoise voltage reference.

Referring to FIG. 2, depicted is a schematic diagram of a crosssectional elevation of a pair of P-MOS transistors as shown in FIG. 1and having a common source well, according a specific example embodimentof this disclosure. The P-MOS transistor 102 comprises a P⁺ drain 220, agate oxide 226, an N-type polysilicon gate 230 and a P⁺ source 222. TheP-MOS transistor 104 comprises a P⁺ drain 224, a gate oxide 228, aP-type polysilicon gate 232 and the P⁺ source 222. The P⁺ source 222 iscommon for the pair of P-MOS transistors 102 and 104. The P⁺ drain 220,the P⁺ source 222 and the P⁺ drain 224 are in an N-type well/region 234.The aforementioned elements of the P-MOS transistors 102 and 104 may becovered with a protective oxide layer 236. The source, gate and drainconnections are schematically represented by heavy black lines.

Referring to FIG. 3, depicted is a schematic diagram of a crosssectional elevation of a pair of P-MOS transistors as shown in FIG. 1and having individual source wells, according another specific exampleembodiment of this disclosure. The P-MOS transistor 102 comprises a P⁺drain 220, a gate oxide 226, an N-type polysilicon gate 230 and a P³⁺source 222 a. The P-MOS transistor 104 comprises a P⁺ drain 224, a gateoxide 228, a P-type polysilicon gate 232 and a P⁺ source 222 b. The P⁺well sources 222 a and 222 b are separate for the pair of P-MOStransistors 102 and 104, but otherwise function substantially the sameas the pair P-MOS transistors shown in FIG. 2. The P⁺ drain 220, the P⁺source 222 a, the P⁺ drain 224 and the P⁺ source 222 b are in an N-typewell/region 234. The aforementioned elements of the pair of P-MOStransistors 102 and 104 may be covered with a protective oxide layer236. The source, gate and drain connections are schematicallyrepresented by heavy black lines.

The N-type polysilicon gate 230 configuration gives the P-MOS transistor102 a threshold voltage, Vt, of about −1.4 volts. The P-type polysilicongate 232 configuration gives the P-MOS transistor 104 a thresholdvoltage, Vt, of about −0.3 volts. The difference between the thresholdvoltage (−1.4 volts) of the P-MOS transistor 102 and the thresholdvoltage (−0.3 volts) of the P-MOS transistor 104 is approximately equalto the difference in the work function of the gate electrodes. Adding anadditional light P-type implant, e.g., boron, into the channels of bothP-MOS transistors 102 and 104 can reduce threshold voltages, e.g.,approximately −1.1 volts and approximately 0.0 volts, respectively.Having this small a threshold voltage may push the P-MOS transistor 104into a depletion type mode of operation and can create increasedoperational headroom for lower voltage operation of the voltagereference operational amplifier circuit, according to the teachings ofthis disclosure. Fabrication of the N-type polysilicon gate 230 and theP-type polysilicon gate 232 are discussed more fully in the descriptionrelating to FIGS. 4( a)-(d) hereinbelow.

Referring to FIGS. 4( a)-(d), depicted are schematic process diagrams ofprocess steps used in fabricating N-type and P-type polysilicon gatesfor the pair of P-MOS transistors shown in FIGS. 1, 2 and 3, accordingto the specific example embodiments of this disclosure. In FIG. 4( a) P⁻dopant 442 is implanted into a layer of polysilicon 440 a. In FIG. 4( b)a resist mask 444 covers a portion of the P⁻ dopant implantedpolysilicon 440 b, and then N+ dopant 446 is implanted in the portion ofthe polysilicon 440 b that is not covered by the resist mask 444. InFIG. 4( c) the layer of P⁻ dopant and N⁺ dopant implanted polysilicon440 c has mask pattern 448 placed over those portions of the multiplydoped polysilicon 440 c that are to be retained, then the polysilicon440 c is etched away where not covered by the mask pattern 448. Thisleaves an isolated N-type polysilicon gate 230 and an isolated P-typepolysilicon gate 232 as shown in FIG. 4( d). The P⁺ drains 220 and 224,and the P⁺ source(s) 222 shown in FIGS. 2 and 3 are then created andself-aligned with the respective N-type polysilicon gate 230 and therespective P-type polysilicon gate 232 to produce the pair of P-MOStransistors 102 and 104, as described hereinabove. The aforementionedoptional light P-type dopant may be implanted into the N-typewell/region 234 before a gate oxide layer (e.g., thermally grownoxidation is used to create the gate oxides 226 and 228) and apolysilicon layer (e.g., polysilicon deposition is used to create thepolysilicon gates oxides 230 and 232) are placed over the N-typewell/region 234.

While embodiments of this disclosure have been depicted, described, andare defined by reference to example embodiments of the disclosure, suchreferences do not imply a limitation on the disclosure, and no suchlimitation is to be inferred. The subject matter disclosed is capable ofconsiderable modification, alteration, and equivalents in form andfunction, as will occur to those ordinarily skilled in the pertinent artand having the benefit of this disclosure. The depicted and describedembodiments of this disclosure are examples only, and are not exhaustiveof the scope of the disclosure.

1. A voltage reference fabricated on an integrated circuit die,comprising: a first P-channel metal oxide semiconductor (P-MOS)transistor having an N-type polysilicon gate, wherein the N-typepolysilicon gate causes the first P-MOS transistor to have a firstthreshold voltage; a second P-MOS transistor having a P-type polysilicongate, wherein the P-type polysilicon gate causes the second P-MOStransistor to have a second threshold voltage; the first and secondP-MOS transistors are configured as a differential pair of anoperational amplifier; and the operational amplifier has an outputvoltage substantially equal to a difference between the first and thesecond threshold voltages.
 2. The voltage reference according to claim1, wherein the first threshold voltage is about a minus 1.4 volts. 3.The voltage reference according to claim 2, wherein the second thresholdvoltage is about a minus 0.3 volts.
 4. The voltage reference accordingto claim 3, wherein the output voltage of the operational amplifier isabout 1.1 volts.
 5. The voltage reference according to claim 1, furthercomprising a lightly doped P-type implant in an N-type well/region ofthe integrated circuit die where gate channels of the first and secondP-MOS transistors are located.
 6. The voltage reference according toclaim 5, wherein the first threshold voltage is about a minus 1.1 volts.7. The voltage reference according to claim 6, wherein the secondthreshold voltage is about 0.0 volts.
 8. The voltage reference accordingto claim 7, wherein the output voltage of the operational amplifier isabout 1.1 volts. 9-14. (canceled)